loureeddeed230.jpgLou Reed, songwriter and guitarist who helped influence the face of rock music wioth his band the Velvet Underground, passed away today. He was 71.

According to Rolling Stone, Reed's cause of death wasn't reported yet it's been known that he underwent a liver transplant in May.

Back in the 1960s and 70s, the Velvet Undergound weren't commercially successful but revolutionized rock with a mixture of thrashing guitar licks and smooth melodies sung by Reed or German model Nico, who collaborated at the request of famed artist Andy Warhol.